When it comes to selling your home, the first impression you make on potential buyers is crucial. That’s why many sellers opt to stage their home, either through professional services or their own efforts, to make their space more appealing to buyers, both in-person and online. Staging is an effective real estate marketing strategy that can help attract purchaser interest, garner offers at higher prices, and sell homes quicker.
If you’re preparing to list your property on the market soon, here are some essential dos and don’ts of staging your home for sale.
DO depersonalize your space. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in their potential new home, and that can be hard to do in a space that is filled with the seller’s personal belongings. To help buyers build an attachment to a property, it’s important to depersonalize. This means removing any family photos, collectibles, diplomas, and other personal items. Consider depersonalizing your walls and furniture too. Busy accent walls, bold wallpaper, and quirky fixtures can speak to the specific tastes of the owner, so softening your home with neutral colours and fabrics can help make a potential buyer feel more at home. However, it’s important not to strip your space completely of your personality. When staging, stick with basic accent pieces, such as a vase of flowers or simple throw pillows, to liven up the room.
DON’T overlook unfavourable smells. When buyers enter your home, all their senses are engaged, including smell. Unappealing odours due to mould, pets, or garbage can quickly turn off a potential purchaser, so be sure to tackle them before you welcome any showings. Take out the trash and scoop the litter box regularly. If the smell of mildew is present, give your showers and tubs a thorough clean, and schedule a visit from a contractor to rule out any mould-spawning water leaks. Avoid filling the room with artificial air fresheners and instead add subtle natural scents such as fresh linen, baked goods, or potted herbs to entice the senses.
DO improve the lighting. Dark interiors can make spaces feel cramped and uninviting, so introduce an abundance of light into your home. When staging for photographs or showings, open all the blinds and drapes, and remove obstructions away from windows to let in as much natural light as possible. You can also boost the amount of lighting in the home with a layered approach. In addition to ceiling lights, use a mix of floor lamps, wall sconces, under-mount lighting, and table lamps to brighten your space for potential purchasers.
DON’T forget about curb appeal. Buyers can easily make a snap judgment about your property from the minute they arrive on the street, so get things off to a good start from the get-go by staging your home’s exterior too. Begin with a simple clean up, like mowing the grass, power washing the siding and walkways, and clearing the lawn and eavestroughs of any fallen leaves or branches. Be sure to repair any broken porch lights or wonky house numbers. Complete your property’s refreshed façade with a clean doormat and some inviting potted plants or hanging baskets on the front porch. And, don’t underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint on the front door!
DO rearrange your furniture. It is possible to have too much furniture – overstuffed rooms can give the illusion that there is a lack of spaciousness. When staging your home for sale, don’t be afraid to put some items in storage or swap furniture out to achieve an appealing layout that buyers can easily walk through. If space permits, pull furniture away from the walls to allow for more movement and reduce any dead space in the center of the room.
